Category: youth

Life is a journey and in this journey we meet many people. Some people leave a mark on us which remains etched in our hearts and their words always echo in our ears. We follow their footprints, for we know it is their light which will bring out the best of us. At times, our journey may seem as a labyrinth but that’s what makes it beautiful. We all grow up by nursing someone else’s sorrow, grieving through someone else’s grief and being happy in someone else’s happiness.

‘You think it’s my mistake? FINE! Put the blame on me.’ ‘You have this habit of gathering sympathy from your daughter by portraying yourself as the victim.’

It was hard for me to concentrate amidst all this noise. I went to the living room, slammed the door and went out. I headed towards my safe haven.

I saw David sitting out on the porch. He waved at me. The wrinkles on his face were prominent. Age leaves its marks on everyone. His hands were trembling, yet he had the enthusiasm of a kid. It is quite weird for a fifteen year old teenager and a seventy year old man to be friends. Ever since I was a toddler, we would go out for fishing, catch butterflies together, and eat mangoes in his orchard. He would tell me stories and I would listen in awe.

I sat next to him with a gloomy face. ‘What’s the matter kid?’ he interrogated. ‘Well, same old fight. Don’t they understand that they have a daughter who has her board exams in the next three months?’

‘Grownups are quite complicated, kid. Give them time. Things will be fine.’ he assured me with a smile. ‘I’ll never spoil my child’s life. Seeing my mom and dad makes me question true love and the institution of marriage. You say sweet nothings to each other, the love gives you butterflies in your stomach, you start dreaming about that someone and then it fades away with time. You even start taking them for granted’, I went on blabbering.

‘Hold on kid and take a deep breath. I’ll tell you a story now.’ David mumbled. For me his stories were always the best part of our friendship. David cleared his throat and started narrating.

“Let me take you to a time, some 50 years ago when I was a totally different person. I would rarely initiate a conversation with someone. Back then in the third year of my college, I was in love with a girl, Savannah. I don’t know when and how I had fallen in love with her. I would always find her in a conversation with someone with a smile on her face. People used to praise her for her helping nature. She had the aura of honesty of a child, the energy of a teenager and the maturity of an adult. As they say Destiny has its plan, I finally initiated a conversation with her. I would talk to her for hours. She was a beautiful chaos, someone with whom I could be myself.

Hiding my love for her was getting difficult. I finally mustered up the courage to confess my love. I knew that this would either crumble my heart into a million pieces or it would make my life beautiful. I had hope lurking in my heart. I confessed to her that I was in love with her and she reciprocated my love. Life was bliss with her. Our love coursed through the rise and fall of situations. At times we had problems but I knew I loved her and she knew she loved me.

After college we had to stay in different cities. The distance would make us crave for each other even more.

During Christmas, I had gone to visit her place. The door of her house was open. I entered the house and found the entire room lit with candles. Savannah was on her knees with a ring. ‘Will you marry me, sweetheart?’ I couldn’t stop smiling. She looked resplendent in the dim light. ‘Will you answer my question? My knee is hurting’, she muttered. ‘Yes’ “

David blushed as he completed his story.

‘Dinner’s ready. Come in before the candles blow out’, the voice came from behind us.

Savannah stood behind us with a smile on her face. She looked beautiful as always.

‘I hope someday you change your opinion about love and marriage, kid.’ David said as he got up to go inside. I wished them good night and left the place.

…….

Twenty years have passed since the day David narrated his story. David taught me what true love is. The magic that accompanies it lights up lives and it is greater than any other emotion. As they say ‘falling in love is easy but staying in love is special’.

‘Ayesha!’ Ayesha! It’s already 5 p.m. he will be here anytime. Get ready’, Mrs. Arora shouted at the highest pitch of her voice.

‘Mom, I am not sure about an arranged marriage. How can I stay with someone I hardly know? I can’t marry him’, saying this Ayesha slammed the door of the bathroom.

After half an hour Ayesha was sitting in front of the mirror applying Kohl to her eyes. She looked stunning. ‘Why am I doing this? I can’t spend the day with a stranger? Why are we creating all the fuss? Look at his profile pic mom. He looks so formal. He doesn’t even smile.’

‘You have talked to him over the phone thrice. You will get to know him once you meet him. He is a nice guy. You both will make a perfect pair’.

Ayesha gave a disgusted look. Arguing with her mother was pointless.

The doorbell rang.Mrs Arora rushed to open the door. Ayesha glanced at the mirror and sauntered towards the living room. She was too nervous to take fast steps. It seemed like a door to fallacy. She did not want to regret.

He was sitting on the sofa, dressed in black tees and blue denim. He had the kind of face that could make one stop in one’s track and turn around to have a second glance. His infectious smile never left his face. Any woman having him in her life would consider herself fortunate. His eyes caught Ayesha’s attention. They were light brown in color. His face had the innocence of a child. Dhruv Malhotra, the guy who was supposed to be Ayesha’s date for the evening, whom Ayesha’s parents had selected for her.

Dhruv looked at Ayesha and smiled.

‘Aunty I’ll definitely have a cup of tea the next time I visit you all.’ Ayesha’s mother smiled and blessed Dhruv.

‘I’m waiting for you outside’ saying this Dhruv moved out. Ayesha closed the door behind her. She could feel her nerves tingling like being tickled with a small feather.

He stood there leaning against his bike. He looked calm and composed.The moment their eyes met his infectious smile caught her into its grip.Dhruv engaged Ayesha in conversation

They went to a cafe. He was interesting, someone you could spend the entire time with and not get bored with. ‘I want to take you to my favorite place in Banaras’, Dhruv muttered.

Chattering around endlessly they came to a halt.

The majestic magnificent holy River Ganga stood ahead of them. People had gathered at the ‘ghat’ for the evening ‘aarti’.It was serene and blissful. Ayesha had spent almost all the evenings here but today was special. The place had never looked so beautiful before. The beautiful ‘diyas’ floating in the water had lit up the entire place. The rustling of the leaves and the cold breeze added to the beauty of the place. Dhruv moved the strand of hair that had fallen on Ayesha’s face and tucked it behind her ears. Ayesha told Dhruv about her dreams, her ambitions, and her childhood fears. She narrated everything with the innocence of a child and maturity of an adult. She was at ease. They sat under the starlit sky for hours. The silence was soothing.

‘When I was a kid I used to come here almost every day. After moving to Delhi, I missed this place the most. Today after so many years, I feel the same. .Ayesha, your presence makes all this even more beautiful.’ Ayesha glanced at Dhruv.Her beauty roared into his life. She moved towards him and moved her hand to hold his hand.

Dhruv brought tea for both of them from a nearby tea stall. He looked up at her from his cup of tea only to reflect the affection that he had for her. It made her blush.

Dhruv dropped Ayesha at her home. ‘Thank you so much Ayesha. I have never felt like this for anyone before. You have given me the best evening of my life. I want to become your friend first and then your husband. I want you to do everything that you like. I want you to walk by my side always. I hope to see you soon.’ He waved at her and left the place.

…………………………..

Ayesha felt someone nuzzling her neck. ‘May I have the pleasure to take my dearest wife out for dinner?’ Ayesha came out of her thoughts.

The velvety sough of the spring breeze mingled with his voice. His voice has become the favorite track of her playlist. She turned towards Dhruv and kissed his lips.

‘I’ll be ready in five minutes.’ muttered Ayesha

Dhruv and Ayesha have been married for two years now.

Sometimes the unexpected turns out to be the best thing. Love like faith is a marvel. It’s the unexpected that changes our life. At times you don’t know someone and then all of a sudden that someone becomes your life. That’s how it is!!